SALGA calls for alternative funding and policy review at African Utility Week

Posted: 17 May 2019

CAPE TOWN: SALGA CEO Xolile George on Tuesday, 15 May, participated in a panel discussion for Future Cities and Alternate Finance for Municipalities at African Utility in Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Mr George told the leading conference on African power and energy that partnership with customers, business, labour, civil society, and investors is needed to address challenges in the energy sector and to support municipalities to find sustainable ways to meet their social, economic and material needs.
The conference, that was earlier addressed by Minister of Energy Jeff Radebe, brought together thousands of decisions makers to source the latest solutions on power, energy and water.

SALGA has been at the forefront lobbying for strategic direction and support for municipalities, as well as sensitizing decision makers about the imperative of resolving energy policy complexities.

SALGA has always maintained that municipalities cannot keep relying on the sale of kWh for their revenue: the funding model of local government has to be reviewed. Municipalities also need to find innovative solutions to ensure new sources of municipal revenue (linked to energy), including selling services related to the use of the electricity grid (electricity transport (or wheeling) for the third party). SALGA calls for the sector to initiate a review of the electricity industry